Back in 2004, Sweden was struck with the news of a very bizarre murder taking place in a tiny church village where one of the pastors had his nanny murder his wife and severely injure another church member. This was labelled as "Knutbydramat" or Knutby Murder in English. It's A LOT to unpack there for those who are unfamiliar with this case (google is your friend). This also brought attention to the sect-like life the parish lived, with the brainwashing, manipulation, abuse and sexual abuse that took place years after the murder. The sect was dissolved in 2018.
Linnea was a member of this sect. She became a member as a small child and left it as a young woman. She doesn't focus on the murder or much going around it. Instead, she talks about her own experience growing up in the sect's inner circle, and being friend to Åsa Waldau’s, aka Bride of Christ, daughter, as well as being named Åsa’s daughter herself. A role she should be proud and grateful for. She talks about the brainwashing and manipulation and abuse. But she doesn’t talk about using those terms because what was done was right, because if was in the name of God and was done to help one on the right road to God. It wasn’t until Linnea left that she realised just how wrong this manipulating, brainwashing and controlling behaviour was. To what extent this behaviour went, not only at herself but other members as well.
It was very interesting learning more about this sect from Linnea’s perspective. It’s scary how severe manipulation, brainwashing and abuse could go on for years without no one intervening, with none of the members daring to question the leaders. That it took until 2017 for one of the leaders to report himself, Åsa Waldau and a third pastor who was accused of sexually exploiting a 17-year-old girl. Trials against them came to a closure earlier this year (2020). Again, google is your friend.